A life cut short: Family, friends mourn the loss of Amber Smith

Amber Smith was shot and killed by her husband, Chris Smith. The two were going through a separation.

Chris Smith was a Hinds County Deputy.

On April 13, a Rankin County deputy responded to a verbal disturbance involving the couple.

The home where the deputy murdered his wife and then killed himself.

BRANDON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -

Charitable. Giving. A full-time mother who loved her two children.

This is how her friend, Elizabeth Adams, described 27-year-old Amber Noelle Smith.

Amber's oldest daughter, at age 9, had already been through four brain surgeries.

Her friend Elizabeth said Amber had a deep compassion for children and families affected by illness, donating toys every Christmas for children at Jackson's Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital.

All that was cut short days earlier, when authorities say Amber's husband, Hinds County Deputy Chris Smith, shot and killed her.

He then took his own life. All of this happened at their Brandon home.

The Rankin County Sheriff said it appeared the two got into an argument before the shooting started.

But that's not the first time they had been called to the house.

At least one other time, on April 13, a Rankin County deputy responded to a verbal disturbance involving the couple.

In this incident report, Amber told the deputy the two were going through a separation and he had hidden her keys so she couldn't leave.

The deputy helped resolve the issue and Amber left for the night.

Ten days later, she was dead.

Family friend Elizabeth Adams released a statement to WLBT saying, "Amber Noelle Smith was a wonderful mother, daughter, sister, and friend. She had an amazing heart and everyone that knew her, instantly loved her. Her family and friends are deeply saddened by her loss and want to grieve while they let her rest in peace."

The organization predicted 10 to 16 tropical systems, with five to nine becoming hurricanes. One to four of those hurricanes is predicted to develop into major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or above.

The organization predicted 10 to 16 tropical systems, with five to nine becoming hurricanes. One to four of those hurricanes is predicted to develop into major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or above.